@JoeBlacula Presents - Sylva Maria @SylvaMaria8

Sylva Maria

Click here to download Crash Landing

“Crash Landing” is brought to you from the uniquely chameleon styled mind of Chicago Artist Sylva-Maria.  Also known as Star, Rasta Child Morning, and The Lioness, Sylva-Maria uses Crash Landing as a bridge to a new era is Music.  Labeled by Sylva-Maria as ’Rhythm & Rhyme,’ her manner of sonic projection leaves nothing to be wanted no matter what genre of urban music you prefer.  

https://sylvamaria.com/

When ‘Star’ emerges, you are hit with bars from a talented lyricist.  Tracks like ‘Promise’ and ‘Note to Self’ from Crash Landing deliver classic Hip Hop with metaphoric bars stimulating any listener.  ‘Real Fire Spitters’ featuring Kadar is meant to guarantee her position as someone who knows how to lay down bars. 

Always incorporating melody into every thread of her music, ’Sylva-Maria’ is the songstress that adds the R&B element to every song.  Her sound and her voice is not your normal take on R&B.  There is a rough passion that hollows out her soul when she turns her words into melodic representations of her thoughts.  

http://www.gowherehiphop.com/node/21423

What is masterfully evident when ‘Rasta Child Morning’ settles in on the Mic’, is Sylva-Maria’s Jamaican heritage.  With her father being born and raised in Jamaica, and her American mother having a genuine passion for the culture, Reggae is a big part of Crash Landing.  Tracks like ‘Keys To The City’ and ‘Trippin’ infuse Jamaican Patios with common Hip Hop, giving it a blended sound of her two cultures.  Using her father, Reggae Artist Michael Black on the hook for the track ‘Maybe Tomorrow’ gives a trail to her lineage.  ’Too Experienced’ is laid over an energetic island style rhythm, bringing together the singer Sylva-Maria, with the rapper Star, providing an exact mesh of what Sylva-Maria is all about.  

https://sylvamaria.com/

When needed, Sylva-Maria draws even more energy into her music by featuring members from her Crew, “The Knights of The Mic.”  Being diverse in sound is a consistent theme in any Sylva-Maria project, and her Crew only adds more to that sound.

https://sylvamaria.com/

As a single Chicago girl with no children, Music is Life for Sylva-Maria. Crash Landing has the soul purpose of exposing the world to intelligent, heart-felt music with a meaning.  Sylva-Maria’s views on Religion, Love, and Life are represented equally in her music to not only educate people on who she is, but to have others have a point of view to relate to.

All photos taken by @ladonnaraeh

The 10 Greatest Ghostwriters in Hip Hop

Allegations that Stic Man and Jay Eletronica contributed some writing to Nas’ Untitled LP has added another chapter to hip-hop’s never-ending ghostwriting saga. Though initially billed as a cardinal sin, it’s been prevalent in hip-hop from the start. Grandmaster Caz famously penned lyrics on The Sugarhill Gang and Big Daddy Kane earned stripes for writing half of Biz Markie’s debut, Going Off, including classics cuts like “Vapors” and “Biz Is Going Off.”

Over the years ghostwriting has become somewhat acceptable when provided for non-traditional rappers. Clearly, moguls like Diddy and Jermaine Dupri were too busy closing deals and producing to write for themselves, so their use of writers-for-hire was tolerated. It’s what’s made the Nas claims so controversial. Under no circumstances should such a prolific wordsmith lean on any kind of lyrical aid.

It's important to point out that the extent of stic. man and Jay Elec's alleged writing is still unclear. Both spoke up in Nas' defense, but their response wasn't explicit enough to put the issue to bed. It's pretty common for MCs to borrow a line or two from time to time. Could this be the case? Cormega's been on record saying that he lent Nas his famous, "I'll be flooded with ice so hell fire can't scorch me," on The Firm's "Affirmative Action." The rest of Nasty's verse was all his.

For now, Esco's alleged ghostwriting fiasco remains a mystery. What has been confirmed, however, is that God's Son has historically been assisting other rappers. He’s written for Dr. Dre, Will Smith and Diddy, and God knows who else isn’t on record. Plenty more MCs have serviced their bars for cash over the years. 

10. Royce da 5'9" (Tie)

Known Clients: Dr. Dre, Diddy
Nickel-Nine infamously contributed to Dr. Dre’s 2001 album (“The Message”), but his manager violated the first rule of ghostwriting: thou shall not speak. The Detroit MC’s behind-the-scenes man blabbed to the media and the good doctor quickly rebuked their pass to the land of D-R-E. Despite the hiccup, Diddy later hired Royce for his poison pen. There's been murmurs that Royce will be contributing to Detox as well.

10. Rick Ross (Tie)

Known Clients: Trina, Diddy, Dr. Dre
Ricky Rozay’s resume includes gold albums, crew construction and block bangers. But before Ross became the Bawse, he was the employee: double R wrote rhymes for his former label-mate, Trina, and rumors about that the Miami MC put in work for Trick Daddy. Although he didn’t exactly deliver his, Ross’ work helped launch Slip-N-Slide into the mainstream. Who knows nann now?

9. Grandmaster Caz

Known Clients: Sugarhill Gang
He may not possess a litany of credits, but Caz, undoubtedly, has the ghostwriting credit—he penned the rhymes behind hip-hop’s first breakout hit, “Rapper’s Delight.” Technically, GMC didn’t ghostwrite since his book of rhymes was stolen. However, years later he received the acknowledgement he long deserved.

8. Sauce Money

Known Clients: Diddy
Sauce Muthafuckin’ is an MC with bars sharper than Ludacris’ hairline. The one-time Jay-Z cronie took ghostwriting efforts to new heights when the crafty wordsmith won a Grammy for penning Diddy’s tribute to his fallen friend, B.I.G, “We’ll Be Missing You.” It’s a feat unmatched, still.

7. Big Daddy Kane

Known Clients: Biz Markie
King Asiatic Nobody’s Equal was suave on the mic, but the Brooklyn MC was also devastating with a pen. Kane crafted classics for himself, but he also increased the value of his Juice Crew brethren Biz Markie’s catalog. “Vapors” was one of the few gifted Biz’s way from BDK.

6. Nas

Known Clients: Will Smith, Dr. Dre, Diddy, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri
Despite being embroiled in a controversy this past week over allegations that he, himself, used ghostwriters on his Untitled album, Nas has a history of penning hits for others, most notably his former labelmate, Will Smith. The Queens poet put in writing duties for Smith on the Tinsel Town titan’s Big Willie Style album, contributing “Gettin’ Jiggy wit It,” “Miami” and more. He also put in work for Dr. Dre (“Watcher”), Diddy (“I Need A Girl”), Foxy Brown and Jermaine Dupri. Whether he needed help to be more radical or not, one thing’s certain: Esco is more than able to cover that fly shit.

5. The Notorious B.I.G.

Known Clients: Lil' Kim, Lil Cease, Diddy
Biggie didn’t keep his twisted genius all to himself. He shared some with Lil’ Kim too. It’s best exemplified on Kim’s classic debut, Hard Core. Big ’s contributions weren’t always officially credited, but his being Kim’s mouthpiece was public knowledge. Kim’s “Queen Bitch” reference track would later surface. Hearing Big Poppa rhyming, “Got buffoons eating my pussy while I watch cartoons” was priceless. And Kim, delivered it flawlessly. The Black Frank White would also write for Lil’ Cease and Diddy, but nothing comes close to the blueprint he’s laid for Kim’s legendary career.

4. Jay-Z

Known Clients: Memphis Bleek, Foxy Brown, Dr. Dre
Jay-Z’s ‘96 debut, Reasonable Doubt may not have struck platinum until much later, but the God MC earned a plaque that same year for his writing contributions to Foxy Brown’s Ill Na Na. He’d previously written for Fox on RD’s “Ain’t No Nigga” and penned Memphis Bleek’s verse on “Coming of Age.” He arguably topped himself when he ghostwrote Dr. Dre’s “Still Dre” three years later. Not only did Jigga Man pen from Dre’s perspective as if the Good Doctor wrote it himself, Brooklyn’s own captured West Coast life as if he was bred in Compton. Only a select few have been fortunate enough to benefit from Mr. Carter’s pen. He doesn't share his sharp bars anymore—that we know of—but for the right price he can certainly still make your shit tighter.

3. Ice Cube

Known Clients: N.W.A
Eazy-E may have been the mastermind behind N.W.A, but Cube’s lyrics are the reason the influential Los Angeles group became known as the world’s most dangerous group. In addition to writing his own rhymes, Cube shared ghostwriting duties throughout the Panic Zone EP and Straight Outta Compton—at times writing for Eazy, Dre and even MC Ren. Yea, yay!

2. The D.O.C.

Known Clients: N.W.A., Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg
The D.O.C. was off to a fast start until he got into a near fatal car accident that damaged his vocal chords. The crash happened only months after the Dallas MC’s certified platinum debut, No One Can Do It Better, hit stores. He reinvented himself as a ghostwrite who contributed lyrics to N.W.A. LPs post Ice Cube and later Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg’s early work. He’s still part of Dre’s pen team to this day.

1. Skillz

Known Clients: Diddy, Ma$e, Foxy Brown, Jermaine Dupri, Will Smith, Willow Smith

Most MCs on the list have occasionally been writers-for-hire, but Skillz—in addition to D.O.C.— is one of hip-hop's true career ghostwriters. There's no denying his own catalog as an MC. The Virgina lyricist has five albums to his credit. But no other MC has written for such a lengthy and diverse list of clients. He even documented his feat on the controversial 2000 single, "Ghostwriter.” On the song, Skillz puts several of his high profile clients on blast—some for failing to compensate him. His label at the time, Rawkus Records, edited the names out. Though he would later perform the first verse uncensored—revealing that Jermaine Dupri, Diddy and shockingly Ma$e, had previously procured his services. It’s no secret that hip-hop’s very first crossover hit—The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight—was ghostwritten, but Skillz’s revealing cut shed light on how common the once taboo practice had become. Skillz more recently added Willow Smith to his resume and he’s maintain a close working relationship with her dad, Will, over the years. Skillz may never put the song back out with the names in it as promised, but his confirmed client list is enough to certify him as the greatest ghostwriters to ever do it.

Welcome to Chatham Village DAMNIT!!.....

View My walk through Chatham. (The best neighborhood on the east side.) in a larger map This is another romp through my old neighborhood of Chatham Village, located on the south east side of Chicago, Illinois. I LITERALLY used to walk every square inch of this grid, and I know the areas like the back of my hand. Now, I may know the area like the back of my hand, but that doesn't mean that I would walk the area without something IN my hand, ya diig?? Meaning, these aint the best areas to decide to take a stroll through; be it day or night. My suggestion would be to have some form of "protection", or a "weapon" of some sorts. I think of it as keeping an umbrella with you at all times. It's better to have it and not need it, then the other way around. Guard your grill, and knuckle up! Please believe it!!

Illinois Man, Faces Terrorism Charge In Oklahoma Bomb Plot

Gregory Weiler (Actual Facebook Pic)

 
October 6, 2012 (ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.)

Gregory Weiler of Elk Grove Village is being held without bail in Miami, Okla., accused of planning to burn down nearly 50 churches.

Weiler's family says the 23 year old left the Chicago area a few years ago to join a religious group. Yet, it was religion that apparently was the motive behind the alleged bomb plot.

On a rambling Facebook entry posted a couple weeks ago, Weiler used the words "hypocrisy," "murder" and "deceit" when talking about the leaders of the Catholic Church.
Weiler checked into this Oklahoma motel over two weeks ago.

Gregory Weiler (Local Terrorist nut!)

Police say he spent his time plotting to blow up dozens of churches.

The Elk Grove native was tracked down by police after bomb making equipment was found in the motel dumpster. Inside Weiler's motel room, police discovered about 50 beer bottles that were made into Molotov cocktails.

Weiler's family said he has been having problems with mental illness for years. Matthew Weiler and his cousin Johnny Meyers say it was only a matter of time before Greg Weiler was going to be in serious trouble. They are relieved he is in custody.

While Weiler sits in jail accused of a deadly terrorist plot, his family says he is not a monster. They also say that he has been having problems with mental illness for years, and they assume that he was off his medication, although they do not know for sure. Matthew Weiler and his cousin Johnny Meyers say it was only a matter of time before Greg Weiler was going to be in serious trouble. They are relieved he is in custody.

Weiler has a very troubled past. After both of his parents committed suicide, Weiler was taken in by his aunt and uncle. They had Weiler hospitalized several times for mental illness as well as alcohol and drug addiction.

Joe Blacula Presents - All about @DJSlugoMusic

I remember when I was a 14 year old teen back in the summer of 1987. I had just finished my freshman year of high school. I was very open to the world, and highly impressionable. I was of an age where I was establishing my independence, and I wanted to hang out and kick it. One of the things that was going on in the late 80's were the weekend parties at some of the older hotels. The Bismark Hotel seemed to have a party every Saturday. I was aware because the poster boards were on every corner stoplight all over my neighborhood of Chatham Village. Ron Hardy, Lil Louis, Ron Trent and DJ Slugo were always the main attractions for the parties. I was always really envious of all of my older friends that were able to go and get to see the DJ's in person.

     Fast forward to 1997 when I met DJ Slugo, while I was on staff at Creators Way Associated Labels.  I was silently in awe at the fact that this cat held down ALLLLLL of those parties, for all of those years, actually was a very down to earth dude. He was always very brutally honest with me then, and he still is with me to this day. If Slugo had a problem with you, then best believe that you were gonna know about it. He wouldn't waste your time with a lot of long drawn out convo. If he said yes, then he meant YES! If he said no, then the answer was HELL TO THE NO!! I give him credit for telling me to take a leap of faith and start my own network. I'm not gonna get into the content of the conversation, but my mans basically berated me for a few hours, and made me get my mind right. Most folk are offended by his direct approach. I personally prefer it. My mom used to say, "Don't tell me what i wanna know, tell me what I need to hear!!" DJ Slugo has always been that for me.

     I think that i'm more shocked at the fact that more people haven't had sit down interviews about DJ Slugo. I mean, the dude INVENTED JUKE MUSIC!! Most of the young'ns that are doing footwork, wouldn't have anything to dance to if it wasn't for my mans. So with all that being said, i'm very proud to be the first to get all of this info out of Slug.

Jam Master Jay, Has been dead 10 years today - Find out what REALLY happened....

RIP to the one and only Jam Master

Hip-hop pioneers Run-DMC are back on tour — their first without the backbeat of the group, Jam Master Jay, the victim of an unsolved slaying shrouded in mystery and lack of cooperation by witnesses.The platinum-selling band — which brought hip-hop to the mainstream with hits like “It’s Tricky,” “King of Rock” and a remake of Aerosmith’s “Walk This Way” — kicked off a tour last month even as the NYPD remains frustrated the 2002 execution-style rubout of the hip-hop star, whose real name was Jason Mizell, remains stalled 10 years later.

“We never really had a good lead,” the case’s head detective, Vincent Santangelo, told the Daily News. “Nobody would or nobody could tell us the who or what. We’re still looking for that person.”
Law enforcement sources, who at one time worked the case, said the people inside Mizell's 24/7 recording studio provided a play-by-play account of the Oct. 30, 2002 murder — but everyone stopped short in identifying the gunman or his sidekick.

The 37-year-old turntable wizard — who stayed anchored near the hardscrabble Hollis neighborhood where he grew up — arrived at the studio just hours before the killing.
After packing some equipment for a show in Philadelphia the next day, Jay got a bite to eat and took a seat on a couch at the rear of the studio. His pal, Uriel (Tony) Rincon, sat next to him and the pair began playing a video game.
Mizell placed a .45-caliber pistol on the arm rest.
A short time later, Mizell's assistant, Lydia High, entered the cramped studio to go over his itinerary. High's brother, Randy Allen - Mizell's longtime pal and business partner - soon came in with two friends, but they shut themselves in the control room at the front of the studio.
Everyone had been in the room for less than an hour when a man dressed in black, possibly wearing a hat, stepped in and gave Mizell a hug about 7:30 p.m. But after the short embrace, the man pulled out a .40-caliber handgun.
“Oh, s----,” was all a witness heard Mizell say before a shot rang out.
The bullet pierced Rincon’s left leg. Then, a second shot hit Mizell in the head, killing him before he hit the floor.
The killer and his accomplice, who was standing outside the door, both sprinted out of the two-story building and disappeared.

Santangelo, a 22-year vet, and his team spent years chasing scores of leads that sometimes brought him to cities across the country. No arrests have been made, but Santangelo believes that could change with the help of a good tipster — who can collect a $60,000 reward if there's a conviction.
But the sources, who spoke to the News last week, said they've already fingered one of Mizell's killers, but making an arrest has been stalled out by reluctant witnesses and bad press.
“We just never had enough to make it stick,” said one of the sources.
Investigators suspect career criminal Ronald Washington was either the lookout or the gunman. The hit was likely ordered after Mizell — who owed up to $500,000 to the IRS — refused to settle a decade-old drug debt with his old friend Curtis Scoon, the sources said.

Jam Master Jay being removed from the murder scene.

Washington — who is serving a 17-year stint for armed robbery — allegedly confessed his role in the killing to a former girlfriend, authorities have said. “She was credible. She was a witness who we vetted,” said one source. “We had enough to bring it to a judge.”
High, who allegedly buzzed the killers into Mizell's studio, said Washington was one of the killers, but she later recanted.
“She changed her story three or four times after,” another source said.
Neither Washington nor Scoon, who now lives in Georgia, was ever charged. “As time goes by, he becomes less and less of a suspect,” said Scoon’s lawyer, Marvyn Kornberg. “He’s moved on with his life.”

The open case has left Mizell’s family shattered.
“The past 10 years has been really hard,” said the jam master’s brother, Marvin Thompson, 57. “There’s still so many unanswered questions. ... I pray that someone will step up and close this case and give us some peace.”
Thompson, too, is convinced that Washington was one of Mizell’s killers.
“It’s frustrating,” he said. “But the fact that he’s in jail ... I guess that’s some kind of closure.”Mizell’s 77-year-old mother, Connie Mizell-Perry, said she believes karma will eventually sneak up on the wanted men.
Speaking from her North Carolina home, she had one thing to say to the killers: “One of these days, you’re going to think you have it made and someone is going to tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘Gotcha!’”
For now, though, the focus is on Run DMC, the revived hip-hop trio, now a duo with no turntables behind their microphones. Partners Darryl (DMC) McDaniels and Joe (Run) Simmons soldier on.

“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years since Jay’s death,” McDaniels said in a statement to the Daily News. “That’s crazy. It seems like I just saw him yesterday.
“He impacted other people’s lives and that’s the Jay I loved and respected,” McDaniels added. “But spiritually, he’s always with me. His presence is felt as strongly today as it was the night he passed away.”

Timothy O'Tooles - 622 N. Fairbanks - Chicago, Il

I can still remember where I was at on this day 10 years ago. I had a meeting with my attorney earlier in the day, and that night I had a date with my BFF Andrea Miller at a spot that I go to called Timothy O'Tooles. While we were enjoying a drink and a meal, my potna called me on my Nextel phone and told me that Jay had gotten killed......Dayummn!! Fortunately it didn't ruin our night, but it most definitely shock the hell outta me, and rattled me to the core. 

I didn't know Jay personally, but I kinda feel that I did. I've always wanted to be the dude that played the background of situations. Hence the name; Joe Blacula. I studied all of his scratch patterns, and me and my friend Michael would perform routines from Run DMC's albums "King of Rock" and "Raising Hell" in his parents basement. Hell, Run DMC are the only reasons why I wear Adidas shirts and clothes to thus day. Jay was the perfect definition of a cat that played the background, but in all actuality, he's the one that ran the show! Jay would be the one who would get the crowd goin before Run and DMC came out on the stage. He would do these scratch routines, scratching Run's name, and the two emcees from Hollis, Queens would enter from opposite sides of the stage. Run would say "Now it's about that time for us to say", and then Jay would scratch "RUN DMC AND JAM MASTER JAY"!! Maaan i'm getting chills remembering when I saw that infamous scene in Krush Groove. That movie changed my life, but Jam Master Jay made me who I am!

@JoeBlacula Presents - New Music - Twista “Reloaded” Mixtape Hosted by Don Cannon @twistagmg @doncannon @traxster

Twista is back with "Reloaded", and features production from Chicago's own The Legendary Traxster.  Click on the above pic and download now. 

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@JoeBlacula Presents Swagga - @TalkOfChicago

Drell Nichols (Swagga) is a Chicago born artist/songwriter with over 10 years in the game. He was raised on classic R&B, Disco, and 80’s Pop music, which constructed his well rounded perspective with music. Despite facing the hurdles that life throws at all of us from time to time, he managed to persevere, and converted his artistry into the epitome of his struggle. His resume includes live performances, studio recording, and developing independent artists with similar visions. His song catalog is over one hundred songs which are copywritten through the Library of Congress, and is the head of his own indie label Barz "R" Us Ent, which is home to other artists and songwriters.  His overall goal is to obtain distribution and exposure from a company which would help stabilize what he has built with Barz R Us.  Swagga’s appearances include air-play on multiple Chicago area radio stations, including www.ChicagoCrook.com several collaborations with Juke legend Dj Slugo, Dj V Dub’s mixtape “Laws & Policies”, Chicago Cable TV show UGTV, and a lyrical style and voice that is completely unique.

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@JoeBlacula Presents.....The Vitality Muzik Group

Eric "Chill" Smith

Reggie "Redd" Cooper

The Vitality Music Group was  founded in 2010 by two Chicago B Boys and former graffiti taggers, Eric “Chill” Smith and Reggie “Redd” Cooper. It is also one of the home base studios for Joe Blacula. Everything began once Eric gave Reggie a phone call one day to get his thoughts on starting a label with a home-based studio and Reggie agreed. After going thru a series of hurdles with Illinois tax laws, Eric and Reggie used there finish carpentry skills to build a soundproof studio in Dolton, Illinois. Timothy “Timmy G” Peoples, a childhood friend of Eric’s, was signed in 2011 to Vitality Music Group, after his time with being in a group with Kanye West had ended. 

The company is currently finalizing the first solo project from Timmy G titled “Thinking Like a Millionaire”, an instrumental compilation titled “Beatz For Rhymes VOL. 1”,  as well as other projects for VMG signees Beno & Qwilla entitled 
“The QB Project”.


Check out the song "Time-Out" (Remix) performed by Timmy G featuring AV from the group Pretty City. Produced by Joe Blacula


The original version can be found on YouTube/Vitalitymuzikgroup

Timmy G & Joe Blacula at Vitality Muzik Group Studios.

Bobbi Kristina Brown: Drunk, Pregnant & Out Of Control

Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown....the 19 year old daughter of the late great Whitney Houston has been shaking up the news media lately. What's her story? Actually, she has a FEW stories hitting the headlines. There have been several allegations of Bobbi Kristina being involved with drugs, partying and heavy drinking. According to TMZ.com, she might drink herself to death, her family members say. And also dig this!! The Atlanta Star reported that Bobbi Kristina may be pregnant, and her father has been arrested for yet another DUI!

Possibly the biggest headline of all is the new reality show she is starring in along with her family, entitled "The Houstons: On Our Own". She is co-starring with her Aunt, Uncle, Cousin, Grandmother and former Stepbrother, to whom she is now ENGAGED!! What the hell?? Yes!! What the hell indeed!! His name is Nick Gordon, and he is 22 years old. He was Whitney Houston's "godson" whom she adopted when he was 12 years old. Bobbi Kristina was 8 years old at that time. Previous reports around the time of her death say that Whitney unofficially adopted Nick over 10 years ago after learning his mother could no longer care for him. The show premiered on Lifetime network last week, and Bobbi Kristina seemed to be the antagonist or the "bad girl" of the show, which it seems that EVERY reality TV show out there has. There were plenty of scenes showing Bobbi & Nick kissing, cuddling, dressing alike, and doing all the things other couples do at that age. But the news of their engagement was not well-received by the family. There was even a scene where Pat, who refers to her as "Krissy" got into it with her husband and left after Bobbi Kristina had to be rushed to the hospital for having drank too much. GREAT JOB Bobbi Kristina for keeping the Brown/Houston legacy going!!

Stupid Chicago Rappers Are Publicly Being Stupid....AGAIN!!

A shocking video has surfaced showing Chicago rapper Lil Reese physically assaulting a young lady during a house party. Once again, as usual, these Chicago rappers are acting a damn fool in public for the world to see. When I read this kinda sh!t, I am immediately embarrassed because these young cats....JUST....DON'T.....GET....IT!!! Lil Reese, a member of Chief Keef’s GBE clique, is captured on cellphone footage arguing with the young lady, before the altercation turns physical. A brawl starts, as the argument escalates to the point where Reese can be seen punching, slapping and stomping on the lady as she screams for help. It’s an unspeakable video that needs no explanation. According to Reese however, the video is old. This is what Lil Reese tweeted: "The haters tryna see a mf Dwn. lol Dey gotta b broke and bored wanna upload sum shit from years ago damnn we winnin it's 2 late...‪#3hunna" "Dis wat doin betta den da next mf bring small shit it's nothin time 2 turn Uppp fuck it...‪#3hunna"

Fellow Chi-Town rapper Lil Mouse took to Twitter to make jokes about the video, tweeting: "#WouldYouRather take the A-town stomp to the face by Lil reese or The uppercut from the bus driver?" Mouse, who is only 13 years old, is jokingly referring to the infamous Cleveland bus driver video, which shows an unruly passenger receiving a brutal uppercut from a bus driver. I'm a lil concerned that Lil Mouse is making fun of this video, considering Chief Keef made the same mistake tweeting jokes when Lil JoJo, another Chicago rapper who was considered a rival to Keef's GBE group, was gunned down a few days after he was seen on video arguing with Lil Reese.

Today Lil Reese offered an apology for his act which reads as follows......" "Everybdy makes mistakes," the tweet read. "I was out of charcter & ive grown sense then Dont judge me for my past i can admit my wrongs and I apologize.#3hunna." In my opinion, it's Too "LIL" and TOO LATE! I don't give a damn with HOW old this video is dude, the smart thing would've been for you to have released a statement IMMEDIATELY saying something about being sorry for what you've done. But from what I can see, your camp is a ship without a captain, in route to an Iceberg. Its obvious that you don't have a publicist, or ANYONE with ANY kind of sense over there at #3hunna. Take these words from a GROWN MAN that has been where you are. Enjoy the moment, because your clock is ticking. What you don't realize is that all of us get 15 minutes of fame, (Google Andy Warhol) and y'all are down to about 6 minutes. The mood has shifted, and cats really aint feeling the vibe that y'all have brought to the table called HIP HOP. But the problem is that you can't see that the light is slowly fading out.....You will surely know when you're back in the dark. I'm waiting for the announcement that Def Jam has gotten wise and dropped you from their roster. P.S. This is from one of the 2 dudes, the big dude, that y'all were arguing with in the front yard on Wabash in 2011, when that Nip Ken was still living in the basement apartment. #GrownManTalking

Gang violence in Chicago goes nationwide.

Our violence problems here in Chicago are not only tragic, but friggin embarrassing. Especially now that our damn dirty laundry is about to be aired out in front of a WORLDWIDE audience!! Who knows, maybe someone in the Outback of Australia can help us figure out a problem that we can't seem to handle locally. ABC News said it wanted to step beyond reporting on the gang violence in Chicago to explore ways of reducing it. The network, as shown in reports airing on Thursday the 18th and Friday the 19th, helped organize a summit that brought 38 former and present gang members together to discuss what is going on. "We don't want to go in and do another story that simply tells you about the crushing, tragic slaughter taking place on a lot of weekends there," said "World News" anchor Diane Sawyer on Thursday. "So we started to think, `What could we do to be helpful?' We know that's a dream." There have been more than 400 murders in Chicago this year, with the murder rate four times what it is in New York, ABC said. One gang member who participated in ABC's discussion had been arrested 50 times and was shot after the Sept. 14 meeting being shown in Friday's "Nightline" special. Sawyer said she felt it was ABC's job to listen to what everyone is saying and was struck by how many youngsters, when the bravado is stripped away, expressed wishes that something could be done to change the atmosphere.

ABC correspondent Alex Perez, who grew up in Chicago and wrote an ABC News blog item about how one of his childhood friends was gunned down in gang violence, joins Sawyer on the story. Sawyer said she tried to draw viewers into the story by profiling a 7-year-old boy whose grandmother was killed and who has a fortress in his bedroom. He hears gunshots outside his home at all hours. He's typical of the young people ABC speaks to who just want the chance to grow up. "We can all imagine being that child," Sawyer said. "Maybe not everyone can imagine being at that crossroads and making the decision ... that leads to the streets. But we can all imagine being little Ralph." The reports on Chicago, part of ABC News' "Hidden America" series, air on "World News" on Thursday and Friday and on "Nightline" on Friday night.

Joe Blacula Presents....Never Quit Apparel

This footage is another result of my Intro to Interactive Media class. My teacher Mr. Owens gave us an assignment where we had to shoot and edit footage of someone influential in our community. Well I live on 54th & Wabash, but I aint claiming that as my community. I'm from Chatham Village; born, raised and PROUD!! Never Quit Apparel is one of the businesses in Chatham that I show full support to. They're a small family owned business, but they crank out a lot of quality material on a daily basis. I actually HATE seeing myself on camera because I need to lose a cool 70 pounds, but I really enjoy the process of cutting footage together, and bringing a story or a visual to life. Learn more about Never Quit Apparel by watching the YouTube video that I created, directed & edited. Special thanks to my wife Janeen for shooting it for me. Jonathan O. Whitaker is a man, but Joe Blacula is a BRAND ya digg?? And with pushing a brand, I have to make sure that I am in CONSTANT promotion. Meaning that I am ALWAYS in some way shape or form wearing an item with either my name, or with one of my several production entities. I deal with a lot of people that help me continue to further my brand. Some reliable...unfortunately some aren't. This video is a representation of one of the companies that have always been reliable for what I need. If you're ever wondering who creates all of the shirts that I wear.....look no further. Bottom line, if you can visualize it to wear, then Never Quit Apparel can make it for you! Check out the video and holla at em. AND TELL EM BROTHER JONATHAN SENT YA!!

Common Reflects on 20 Year Anniversary of Debut, Can I Borrow A Dollar?

Twenty years ago, on October 6, 1992, Common’s debut album, Can I Borrow A Dollar?, was essential in laying the foundation for the Chicago rapper’s lengthy career. Despite limited success at the time, the No I.D.-helmed project (where, as Immenslope, he was credited with producing seven of the album’s tracks) showcased Com’s dexterous wordplay and asserted him as a notable new talent. Years later, the collection would be heralded as a classic. Here, in his own words, Common reflects on his entrance into the game.

That was just a time where I didn’t know anything about being in the music industry. I just wanted to be an artist and be a dope MC and be heard and represent Chicago, and KRS and De La Soul and N.W.A and A Tribe Called Quest and all them to know who I was. I was just a young artist, just hungry.

It was a lot of songs from my demo that ended up being on Can I Borrow A Dollar?. I can just remember going to New York, taking all my homies with me, and going to record in Calliope Studios. We recorded there ’cause we saw that the Jungle Brothers and De La Soul and Tribe had did some stuff there. We went there and most of the songs was done, but we just wanted to be in that environment. I remember getting to meet the Beatnuts. They was the first dudes from New York that I even really got cool with. They was dope. I would go to Queens and hang out. They would come around and just show me what New York was about.

“Take It EZ” was the first single that was on the radio. I was in this hotel room at the Best Western. We was doing some promo up on the north side of Chicago, and, at that time, you go to every radio station you can, and because they was open to mix shows, you could take your record and if they like it, they could put it on the radio quick. The DJ could if it was a mixshow thing. On the promo tour, you go out there and just have to make people aware of who you are. I was at the Best Western just chilling out. Man, I just got geeked. I was like, ‘I’m gonna be a star.’ That’s what I felt. You just don’t know what it take to even get—you never know from that point what it really take to be recognized as an artist on a greater level. It ain’t just being played on the radio one time. It’s a consistent thing of being heard and getting exposure and going out there, performing, getting your video played. There was so much more to it than you know when you first come into the music industry. That’s where I was at. That was a time that I got to hear my first song on the radio, as far as a record that I recorded. And see my album cover. It just was like a dream.

Since the debut of "Can I Borrow A Dollar?"., Common has gone on to perform in 16 films, and is one of the starts on Hell On Wheel's on A&E. His movie credits list as follows....2002 Brown Sugar, 2006 Dave Chapelle's Block Party, 2007 Smokin' Aces, Sir Ivy, 2007 American Gangster, 2010 Date Night, 2011 New Years Eve, 2012 Luv... I remember when I first saw the video for "Take it E Z" on The Box. I was excited because I actually KNEW this dude!! He went to Luther South High School with me, his locker was a few down from my sisters, and I was already a fan of the group that he was in called C.D.R. So when I saw this dude's video, I was proud for the city and the culture of Hip Hop. Not only was my mans from the midwest, not only was he from Chicago, not only was he from the East Side, but he was from Chatham Village! Even to this day, with all of his success, he still reps Chicago, and reps Chatham. We are very proud of Lonnie Rashid Lynn, Jr.